Young Arts Arizona is a community-based organization that publicly exhibits children’s art, and has a special interest in supporting at-risk youth. They currently receive artwork from 49 schools and 31 agenices — which they exhibit throughout Tucson and the metro Phoenix area.

Young Arts Arizona produces more than 70 public exhibits of children’s artwork each year — some within their own Phoenix gallery, called “Purple Space,” which participates in the “First Friday” program. They’ve also got an online gallery. Many of the opera-inspired works I enjoyed at the Arizona State Capitol on Thursday had a “Phantom of the Opera” or “Madama Butterfly” theme.

The Arizona Opera production of “Madama Butterfly” runs Jan. 27-29 in Phoenix. Five-year-old Alexander King of Chandler and six-year-old Andrew Baiamonte of Phoenix will play the role of Madama Butterfly’s son “Sorrow.”

Arizona Opera recently announced its 2012/13 season — which they’ve dubbed “The Price of Passion.” It features five works that’ll be performed in both Tucson and Phoenix, including “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Romeo et Juliette,” “Tosca,” “Il Trovatore,” and “The Marriage of Figaro.”

— Lynn

Note: Click here to learn more about Young Arts Arizona and here to learn more about Arizona Opera.